Compensating mechanism for automobiles.



N. 880,117. PATENTED PEB. 25, 1908.

G. H. BALL & J. P. ROGERS. COMPENSATING MEOHANISM FOB. AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Arx. e, 1906.

UNITED STATES lPATENT OEEIOE.

CHARLES HENRY BALL AND JOHN FRANK ROGERS, *OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CQMPENSATIN G MECHANIBI-FOR AUTOMOBILES.

To .all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that we, CHARLES HENRY BALL and JonN FRANK ROGERS, citizensof the United States, residing at Cleveland, in thc county of Cuyahogaand State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inColnpcnsating Mechanism for Automobiles 3 and We do declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains Vtomake and use the same;

This invention relates to compensating mechanism for automobiles andlike vehicles which carry their own power and apply the same through oneor the other axle, usually the rear axle, and the invention consists inmeans connected with the drive axle adapted to prevent slipping of thedrive wheel when turning a corner and to permit the other wheel on saidaxle to automatically disengage itself from driving connection androtate independently thereof on its own radius until theturn iscompleted, all substantially as shown and described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingr drawings Figure 1 is a plain elevation of a vehicleaxle and wheels thereon equipped with our invention, and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line ofthe axle :of oneof the wheels, as hereinafter fully described. Fig. 3 is a view of theoutside of the compensating mechanism 4as such with the cap that coversthe same in Fig. 2 removed and looking directly in line with the axle.Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification of the invention,showing a type of construction and arrangement of parts in which thewheel is outside the compensating mechanism and the reverse of Fig. 2.

In the several views A represents the rear or drive axle of avehicle,say an automobile, and B and C are the wheels thereon as seen in Fig. 1.

D is the driving gear casing.

E represents the hubs of the wheels, both being alike, and this part orhub is mounted on the axle, or over fixed sleeve a thereon byantifriction balls 2 confined in shouldered races a at the ends of thehub, Fig. 2, and bearing upon suitable rings a2 on sleeve a and whichparts are fixed-while the wheel turns thereon in unison with the turningof shaft A under normal conditions, and a friction brake bandSpecication of Letters Patent. Application fied 11m16.190s. semi No.310.297.

Patented Feb. 25, 1908.

-F, engages a friction rim G fixed to the hub and spokes of the wheel asshown in Fig. 2, or in any suitable manner.

H represents a friction hood or rim which is shown as rigid or integralwith the hub proper of the wheel, Fig'. 2, and stands outwardlytherefrom over and apart from the yend of the axle and constitutes thewheel member of the compensating mechanism labove referred to. Said hoodor rim is circular and has a smooth inner working surface straight incross section and adapted to be frictionally engaged by the segments JThese segments have each an inclined inward projection 3 at each end,and said projections are flared from each other at corresponding ends ofthe segments so as to provide substantially wedge shaped spaces betweenthem. Wedges N are set into these spaces from the inside and areconfined between said projections 3 by suitable flanges at the edges ofthe projections and have their base or larger portions or ends bearingupon the curved ends 7 of cam L, which is splinedor otherwise firmlyfixed upon the extremity of shaft A. Side flanges 8 on the ends of saidcam confine said wedges laterally and are rovided with curved slots 9concentric wit the end bearing faces 7 for the said wedges and are eachengaged by a in 10 at the middle and side of the wedge. he cam edges. 7being eccentric to axle A, it occurs when the axle is turned and cam Lwith it the said edges 7 exercise a cam action or effect at both endsand thrust Wedges N outward, thus spreading friction segments J outwardinto engagement with hood or rim H and locking the same frictionally incontact with said ring. As this Occurs wheel C is engaged and caused torotate with the axle the same as if they were rigidly connected, and thesaid arts turn in xed sleeve a, which` is rigid wit the frame work ofthe vehicle as abovedescribed.

Assuming now that both wheels on axle A are engaged simultaneously bythe com ensating mechanism for each as just descri ed, and that bothtravel together at the same speed in a direct line, if a corner is to beturned the wheels Willeither have to change their relative speed or theinner one will have to slip or slide to conform its rotation to thefaster rate of the outer wheel which travels on the larger radius. Thiswould be a strained and objectionable condition, for

obvious reasons, and hence the compensating ,of course bey understoodthat fric-tional cliitchj Ling through segments J is vpossible onlyvfrom "i ine-ntsV induced by the axle; y 'll ditions` and whichautomatically'releases the outerwheel and holdstheipoiverionditlierinner Wheel'till normal or direct travel lis iwainrecurs initially the moment the turning of the ,corne-r begins 1and theouter wheeliincreaseslts s eed, because by this ae w n n it runs aheadof tie speed of the axleI and releases itself from the grip `of vthewedges and eiligagiiig segwedges and segments'autel-natie 3 clutchengagement i\-"ithy th'epwlieel. lt `will Within outward,v and ii-s theii'heel ani'lfaxle ``are going iii 'the/'saine direction` ivi yh'the,

'f 20 lWlieelat thel greater speed, a driving 'eiigiif-gea] V fiiie'ntof the parts cannot 'again occurvuntil i' they axle overtakes the!Wlieel.' V ",Incideiit' to,l y this released and independent' riiiiiiingofthe n l Wheel is the device slioivn for frictionally,refy

tarding segments J in their rotary' movement relative-to axle andduriniJr the interval of 'V' .therewith 'will'not be resumed untiltliel'wheel i yslows to the speed of the axle, when such reneWed'engagementwill'be automatic as before.

Fig.

relationon the axle. Otherwise thereis no material difference. RiiiiHinaybe located centrally Within 'the `Wheel or W ieel hub'in comprising adriven axle, a vWheeln'iounted to turn independently on the axle, andmechan- Wedges to'force the segments ism to positivelv engage Vthe'VWheel ywith' the axle comprising segments fand 'a cam and engagementwith the `ivlieel.

a driven axle, a wheelmountedon the axle, a

- cam fixed on said axlev and arim lon vsaid Wheel, and wedges andlfriction 'segments' in.-

terposed beti'ieeiisaidcam and rimto operatively'engage thewlie'el'ivithl'tlie axle".

"3; Means to drive an independently mounted Wheelconiprisingfan axle'carrying said` wheel, a cani on the axle and wedges adapted to beactuated tliereby,"segnients having their ends vin Working contact' vtlisaid Wedges r'and a rim' on `said Wheel adapted to be friciwanmmaiiealieu` 'the sii-id A,them huele and,. lli",` res-n me a y neutralposition, o'rsayy yaho'iit-'i'isseeii 1in Fig. inivhichpositioii'theseparls,are out` ol' lenga vto", loelyand unlock saidyWheel injrespfect; to

the axlmron'iprising a' pair of segineiitswith,

y illustrates substantially 'the "same". parts as F ig. 2, but inyreverse or ,transposed` into `locking 2. A compensating mechanismcomprising i 'fofihewm'isfmhei In 'testimonywli'ereof We' sign thisspecifi-y .ionally engaged hysaid segments about their outer surfaces.

;.: f4: 'lheii-xle ol' avehiele and Aawlieel mounted to turninde`wndently thereon, and means ywlmik' and unlock the wheeloiwratively as to said axle com rising a rim ,rigidfiivith the wheel atone si e'ther'eof, av doiihle.hired cani hxed on said axle, wedges'mechaiiieally eonnectei'l with said cam so as lo holh foi'ee ,theiveilgesontivard and draw l giifieliitsliaving inclined ei'lges "nga-gedh '.,saidfwe'dges and, adapted lateral 'i-iiii-"jat one side f t'hereofi'vith'anlii'iiier iugsurfa'ce n'coiiibination with means ned rejectionsat correspondf 'eii0$itelyi11e ing ends, wedges" )etiiljeen said iproJections `and adouble faced cai'ii oi'isaid, axle bearing againstthesaidivedges, said cainfand ,wedges 'constructed toraiieesaidlivedges' to move: both 'outwardly and inwardly` according as"rl'iivsiieed; In vehicles,v meansl to roperatively lock tli'elwheeltravelsiv'ith the'ax'le'or at a greater together van independently':rotatable Wheel,

'and a power driven axle,l 'and' to autoofthe/axle Awhen its'rate `oftrav'els greater than that of the a'xle, said lmechanism `comrisi'n(r acani and Wedges actuated the'rebv.

. n, n i u,

ently mounted thereon, in combination "witlififneansfto lock said( partstogether yand to 'automatically unlockv them comprising a cam on thelaxle and a rim ony the Wheelabout the lsame, segments' `within said rimand .wed ges engaged by the. camandextendingbev'tween said segments,said cam having trans.-

vers'e slots engaged bylugs on saidwedges, and a friction device'forsaid'seg'inents. 8.j The construction substantially ,as described,comprising the axle with. the double 'cam thereon, and the Wheel andtheriinon the side thereof, in combination 'vvitl-i" vthe Wedges oeratively connected Lthe cam at their ase an friction clutchfsegments`dis osed Within said ,rim having inwardly -iodo inc inedendproj'ections between'which'said ,l

wedges are laterally confined, andvsaid cani and wedges constructedvand'connected to Withdraw the Wedges when the lowest points"cationinthev presence of twowitnesses. y f

` `CHARLES HENRY BALL. y JOHN FRANK'ROGERS lVitnesses: y U BJMOSER,

C.y A. SELL.-

